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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Bowden gives Reds offseason grade

Former Reds GM and current ESPN.com columnist Jim Bowden took the time to hand out offseason grades for all 30 MLB teams on Friday (click here to read more). And despite criticizing the team for giving up a lot in exchange for Mat Latos back inDecember, the boisterous Bowden seems to be singing a different tune now. Only one team in the National League received a higher grade from him than Cincinnati did (Miami Marlins/A).

Bowden’s Take
The Reds weren’t afraid to trade away four of their top 10 prospects this offseason, but the haul from those deals at the major league club was astounding. Latos is a potential No. 1 starter; Marshall is a shutdown left-handed setup man; and Madson is an impact closer. Ludwick was a solid midlevel free-agent signing who should add some pop in the small confines of Great American Ball Park. The Reds are primed to return to the postseason this year.

Any indication of Bowden having "sour grapes" toward the franchise seems to be subdued now. However, he definitely ruffled some feathers around Reds nation with this quote from December: "The most lopsided trade I've witnessed in recent memory as the Padres swindle the Reds in the 5-player trade that lands Mat Latos in Cincy."

With that said, perhaps this latest grade from Bowden will do well in helping Reds fans forgive him.